This 32-page proceedings document from an e-conference on tourism development, organised by the World Bank Development Communication Division, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Development Communication and Sustainable Tourism Unit, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), states that tourism, as the world's largest economic sector, can be a powerful tool for economic growth, poverty reduction, and for the conservation of natural and cultural resources. It discusses the role of communication for development in sustainable tourism. The cross-sectorial range of issues involving multiple local and national stakeholders includes trade and investment policy, employment and labour laws, enterprise development, public-private partnerships, community and urban planning, infrastructure development, conservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity, management of natural resources, safety and security, and education and workforce development.

The positive aspects of effective communication in sustainable tourism include facilitating management, exchange of stakeholder opinions for consensual solutions, links to markets, and visitor safety. Further, as stated here: "A comprehensive communication strategy, which should identify how information, awareness creation, advocacy, network building, conflict mitigation, and communication platforms will be supported, is essential for any successful sustainable tourism development activity."

Session 2, pp. 7-10 of this conference focuses on communication for community involvement in sustainable tourism and spotlights the relationship between tourists and those living in tourism districts. As stated here, they impact each others lives in ways that are sometimes reciprocal, sometimes mutual. The emphasis of sustainability is on residents of tourist destinations playing a key role in conservation, while deriving benefits, and includes the challenges of resident involvement. The challenges cited here include: frequent changes in local government and lack of government support, conflicting interests between groups, lack of funds, late attempts to involve communities, lack of commercial skills at the local level, too many actors in uncoordinated efforts, failure to consider a whole tourism system including demand for products, and communication gaps between communities and the private sector.


The following are some communication-related examples and applications of tools: